fikshal Mission
A Helping Hand
Neria da Silva Mendonca
On Sabbath afternoon, I went to visit a family whose name I had
been given. A man, Joao, his wife, Lucilene, and four small children
lived in a scene of intense poverty, hunger, and filth. I wondered how
the family could focus on studying the Bible when their material
needs were so great, but Joao eagerly told me about a dream he had.
"I was going to a dance, but I came to a crossroad, and
I
did not know
which way to go. A man dressed in white with a Bible in his hand
stood beside me. I asked him for directions, and he opened the Bible
and said: 'The way is this one.' " Then Joao added, "God has brought
you here. Yes, we want to study the Bible."
I went to visit the family several Sabbaths in a row but did not
find them home. Then I learned that they had moved. I located
them living in a hut made of dirty planks under a tree infested
with ants. Their month-old baby's body was covered with ant
bites. Because of their need, some church members and I began a
Branch Sabbath School there. We taught hygiene and health, and
slowly we were able to change these people's habits. Commu-
nity Services helped with clothing and shoes, and soon Joao and
Lucilene asked for baptism. But Lucilene was a minor, and they
had not been married, so they had to wait for baptism.
One day Joao called me, very upset. I went to see them and
found that Lucilene had been beaten by the neighbors. Joao was
so angry he wanted to kill the offenders. Weeping with them,
I
opened the Bible to Romans 12:19-21 and read, "Do not take
revenge, . . . but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It
is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. . . . Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Slowly Joao
calmed down.
We prayed and asked God to help them find another home.
When I returned home, I met a friend who needed someone to
live on an unoccupied ranch he owned. It had a house, water, and
light. I hurried to tell Joao and his family. Two days later, the
family moved. It was difficult for them to get to church, but they
did not lose courage.
Today they live happily with their children. They have enough
food and a good home. Daily they praise God, awaiting the return of
the Lord Jesus Christ, because they heard the voice of an angel.
Neria da Silva Mendonca is a lay worker in the Ribeirao Preto
Central Church in Sao Paulo State, Brazil.
For Current Ncwsbreak, Call 1-800-648-5824.